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Politico
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Miami crosses DeSantis and Uthmeier
Good morning and happy Friday. Gov. RON DESANTIS and Florida Attorney General JAMES UTHMEIER warned Miami commissioners not to delay this year's city election without voters getting a say. But on Thursday, commissioners defied them — putting themselves in the legal crosshairs of the powerful duo. The commissioners' 3-2 vote will delay the November election to 2026 so that it matches up with federal and state contests. The delay would undoubtedly boost voter turnout. Commissioner DAMIAN PARDO, who led the change, said during Thursday's meeting that voter participation could be expected to grow from around 10 percent to as much as 65 percent. And Commissioner RALPH ROSADO said a key reason he supported the move was because it would lower costs to Miami. Having an election during even-numbered years, some have argued, could also increase the quality of the candidates given the Magic City's scandal-laden reputation. A bill to move municipal elections was even introduced in the Legislature, but died in committee. Yet many see a gaping problem with the delay: It would extend the terms of the commissioners by a year, as well as that of Miami Mayor FRANCIS SUAREZ, who has already been in his role for nearly eight years and would otherwise come up against his term limit in November. (According to the Miami Herald, Suarez lobbied in support of the change.) Suarez, a short-lived 2024 Republican presidential primary candidate, has clashed with DeSantis at times and his own political future is in limbo. He has expressed interest in becoming the U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia — a revelation that got a ton more publicity in May, after he joined President DONALD TRUMP for a lunch in Riyadh and then held an 'Arabian Nights' themed Mayor's Ball. Legally, Uthmeier has determined commissioners' unilateral change violates the city's charter. He promised to consider taking 'all available actions' to stop it. But the Miami attorney's office disagreed with Uthmeier's assessment, noting that North Miami changed its elections from odd to even years in 2022. Coral Gables did the same in May, though Commissioner MELISSA CASTRO is pushing to have that reversed given what's gone down in Miami. At least half a dozen candidates have already announced they're running for Miami mayor, which is technically a nonpartisan office. Republican candidate EMILIO GONZÁLEZ — a founding member of Veterans for Trump — said he was 'outraged' by Thursday's 'illegal' move and called out Suarez for letting the decision stand rather than issue a veto. Democratic mayoral candidate EILEEN HIGGINS described the outcome as a sign of 'dysfunction,' saying that while she supported moving the elections to an even year, 'bypassing voters was wrong.' Commissioner JOE CAROLLO, who opposed delaying the election, complained that if there's a runoff (which happens when no candidates get 50 percent of the vote) then it won't happen until December 2026 — when he predicted turnout would be even more depressed. 'We all know that if this passes today it will go before the courts and end up all the way before the Supreme Court of the state of Florida,' he said. That may very well be where things are headed. And if there's anything Uthmeier has shown in the few months he's been in office, it's that whatever he does in response is sure to be attention grabbing. — Gary Fineout contributed. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget that Playbook should look at? Get in touch at: kleonard@ ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ QUESTIONED — State Senate Democratic Leader LORI BERMAN is criticizing the planned 'Alligator Alcatraz' immigration detention center and wants Attorney General James Uthmeier to answer questions about it. In a letter shared with POLITICO ahead of being sent Friday, Berman (D-Boynton Beach) expressed skepticism over the governor's legal authority under a 2023 state of emergency to take over the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport. She also expressed scorn over the timing of the attorney general's June 19 announcement of 'Alligator Alcatraz' on social media. 'This makeshift prison camp has the potential to be a disaster for both the State of Florida and the detainees forced to reside there,' she wrote. 'The costs and impact of such a facility have yet to be studied, and as you waited to announce this project until we adjourned legislative session Sine Die, the legislature has had no chance to exercise our oversight function.' She also warned that putting detainees — many of whom she said have done nothing wrong but had their temporary protected status revoked — in a 'makeshift prison camp' could constitute prohibited 'cruel and unusual punishment.' The questions involve housing conditions for detainees, the cost to operate the facility and whether any environmental reviews have been conducted. The letter, shared with POLITICO, also was sent to DeSantis and state emergency management executive director KEVIN GUTHRIE, the state coordinator for the project. DeSantis said Thursday during a press conference in Tampa that the federal government will reimburse the state, probably far below $625 million in FEMA money available for 5,000 immigration detainee beds in Florida. Neither he nor Uthmeier have responded to concerns about inhumane conditions. 'We'll keep that cadence going if it works,' DeSantis said. 'What I'm not going to do is just us being to house and feed indefinitely just for the sake of doing that.' — Bruce Ritchie DRILL BAN — 'DeSantis signed a bill Thursday banning oil drilling near the Apalachicola River, an environmentally sensitive area where a proposed permit last year caused a political uproar,' reports POLITICO's Bruce Ritchie. 'The governor signed the measure after the Florida Department of Environmental Protection in 2024 proposed issuing an exploratory drilling permit to Clearwater Land & Minerals for a site 1.5 miles from the river in Calhoun County. … A state judge in April recommended DEP deny the proposed permit, saying a spill would have 'catastrophic consequences' for surrounding streams and swamps.' TUNE IN — POLITICO's Bruce Ritchie will be on 'The Florida Roundup' to discuss the beach access legislation that DeSantis signed on Tuesday. The program airs at noon on public radio stations. FINAL COUNTDOWN — With just days left before the new fiscal year starts on July 1, DeSantis said Thursday that he will sign off on the state's new budget ahead of that date. He also said that there will 'obviously' be some line-item vetoes of spending items before that happens. But there are questions about how deep and far he will go. The governor is having to move at a quicker pace this year because the budget wasn't passed until June 16 due to a legislative tug-of-war over spending levels and tax cuts. The governor said he was 'numb' from all the budget reviews he has done so far. One person familiar with the budget process in the governor's office told Playbook that 'because of the Legislature's delays and disagreements we had a significantly shortened period of time for stakeholder input on projects.' Another person also familiar with the governor's office process said that 'we had fewer than two weeks to do what normally takes place over two months.' Translation: It may not be surprising if DeSantis has a large amount of vetoes because the budget staff and the governor's top aides have not been able to talk to legislators and their staff about why their projects should get spared. DeSantis also pledged that in the next three to four days he will handle all outstanding legislation passed during Florida's bumpy and extraordinarily long session. He also hinted that he may have to veto some of the remaining bills that are on his desk. So far DeSantis has vetoed just one bill — the so-called 'free kill' bill that would have repealed a long-standing law that limits which family members can file medical malpractice lawsuits. The governor sided with health care and insurance interests who contended the measure would have increased health care costs. One of the bills that could draw the veto pen is HB 1445. The bill requires agency heads and many other appointees to be United States citizens and state residents. It would require those on university board of trustees to be a state resident or a graduate of a state university they govern. But this provision would not take effect until Jan. 6, 2027 — the day after DeSantis leaves office. During his time as governor, DeSantis has made several contentious university board appointments that include people who do not live in Florida and did not have ties to the schools they were given power over. — Gary Fineout HEMP HEADACHES — Republican leaders in Texas and Florida have vowed to place tough restrictions on the booming market for intoxicating hemp products. But those efforts have stalled due to fierce industry lobbying, a confusing legal landscape and debates over how big of a threat they pose to public safety, report POLITICO's Arek Sarkissian and Mona Zhang. The legislative failures in two of the country's biggest Republican-dominated states highlight how challenging it's become for state policymakers — as well as their counterparts in Washington — to tackle the booming market for intoxicating hemp products. The policy conundrum stems primarily from the 2018 farm bill, when Congress legalized hemp, while leaving in place the decades-old federal prohibition on marijuana — even though they're both derived from the cannabis plant. PUBLIC SCHOOL CUTS — 'School districts across Florida are attempting to slash millions from their budgets this summer as they forecast another year of enrollment declines fueled by the state's universal school choice program,' reports POLITICO's Andrew Atterbury. 'Hit with a combination of blows — fewer students, federal dollars drying up and state lawmakers passing a lean education budget — local schools are reassigning staff, freezing new hires and increasing class sizes in hopes of staving off firings. Although the Legislature committed to record high K-12 spending, most of the new money is dedicated to vouchers, leaving traditional public schools scrambling as their operational costs mount.' GOING UP AGAINST 'WOKE ACCREDIDATION CARTELS' — 'Florida's university system is partnering with five states to create a new college accreditation board aiming to shake up the market under the Trump administration,' reports POLITICO's Andrew Atterbury. 'Announced Thursday by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, the so-called Commission for Public Higher Education is already backed by leaders across dozens of campuses spanning the Texas A&M University System, the University System of Georgia, University of North Carolina System, the University of South Carolina and the University of Tennessee System.' 'But the hopeful accreditor must first score the approval from President Donald Trump's Education Department before signing with any colleges, something DeSantis is pushing to happen fast.' BETTER GRADES — Students performed better and math and reading than a year ago, new end-of-year testing scores reported by Jay Waagmeester of the Florida Phoenix show. The details: 'Math scores for all students from third grade to high school improved by 3% from 2024, with 58% of students demonstrating a level 3 or higher understanding. The county with the lowest score was Gadsden, with 35% testing at a level 3 or higher, and the highest, Nassau, with 78%.' PENINSULA AND BEYOND — 'Anxiety rises as judge mulls suit brought by Haitians with Temporary Protected Status,' by Jacqueline Charles and Jay Weaver of the Miami Herald. — 'No Pride Month recognition for Hillsborough school board this year,' reports Divya Kumar of the Tampa Bay Times. CAMPAIGN MODE THIS WEEKEND — The Conservative Political Action Conference and Latino Wall Street are pairing up for a weekend bonanza. CPAC Latino is kicking off for the very first time, at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood. Some of the speakers include gubernatorial candidate Rep. BYRON DONALDS as well as Reps. MARÍA ELVIRA SALAZAR and ANNA PAULINA LUNA. There will also be panels on various topics including Hispanic leadership and cryptocurrency. Meanwhile, one new relevant finding: In 2024, DONALD TRUMP edged close to KAMALA HARRIS among Hispanic voters, 48 percent to 51 percent, the Pew Research Center reported. ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN BIRTHDAYS: State Senate Democratic Leader Lori Berman … former Rep. Jeff Miller … former secretary of the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration Simone Marstiller, now with of Gunster … Pat Roberts, president and CEO of Florida Association of Broadcasters … (Saturday) Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson … journalist Brendan Farrington … (Sunday) Micky Arison, chair of the board of Carnival Corp. and owner of Miami Heat … Sarah Bascom, president of Bascom Communications … Christian Ulvert, president of EDGE Communications … Diane Moulton Adams, chief administrative officer at The Southern Group.
Broadcast Pro
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
Saudi Film Commission showcases local talent at Malmö Arab Film Festival
This tour features screenings of select Saudi films, followed by engaging dialogue sessions with Saudi filmmakers and talent. The Saudi Film Commission has participated in the Malmö Arab Film Festival, taking place in Sweden from April 29 to May 5, as part of its efforts to elevate the international presence of Saudi cinema. Demonstrating its strategic push to spotlight local filmmaking on the global stage, the commission has partnered with the festival to present an 'Arabian Nights' event. This initiative includes a multi-city film tour across seven locations in three Scandinavian countries from April 27 to May 8. The tour features screenings of select Saudi films, complemented by interactive dialogue sessions with Saudi filmmakers and creatives. These events aim to introduce diverse cinematic voices from the Kingdom to broader international audiences while emphasising the dynamic growth and creative potential of Saudi Arabia's film industry. Norah, Lail Nahar, Fakhr Alsuwaidi, II Signore and Holes are part of the screening.
Leaders
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Leaders
Saudi Arabia Takes Part in Malmö Arab Film Festival
Saudi Film Commission is currently participating in the Malmö Arab Film Festival in Sweden from April 29 to May 5, according to the Saudi Press Agency. The participation seeks to boost the Kingdom's presence of Saudi cinema on the international stage. As part of the 'Arabian Nights' event, the commission has organized a tour in (7) cities belonging to (3) Scandinavian countries to display numerous Saudi films. Malmö Arab Film Festival Launched in 2011, the festival showcases approximately (80) feature, short and documentary films from all over the world. Moreover, it features sections for competitions and special screenings along with workshops and seminars. During the festival, the commission seeks to highlight the Saudi cinematic identity, support local creators, and forge effective partnerships with international cinema institutions. Related Topics: Japanese Yamamura Holds Masterclass at Saudi Film Festival Celebrating Identity: Ithra to Host 11th Saudi Film Festival in April Saudi Arabia Joins Berlin International Film Festival 2025 Short link : Post Views: 1 Related Stories
Los Angeles Times
27-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
An inspired filmmaker takes us on a ‘Grand Tour' of a colonialist past and a vibrant present
'Grand Tour,' the latest film from Portugal's Miguel Gomes, is stuck in the past, beautifully so, and yet, the present keeps creeping in, insisting on making itself heard. But where other directors might look backward to luxuriate into nostalgia — whether out of fondness for a bygone era or an antiquated style of filmmaking — the director of 'Tabu' and 'Arabian Nights' questions the very notion of what we call 'the past,' crafting a story in which time periods overlap hypnotically. In this seductive travelogue, we are not always sure where (or when) we are, but Gomes' pointedly anti-love story transfixes because of its playful audacity. 'Grand Tour' is an enveloping drama that's far more than the sum of its parts — except the parts are pretty wonderful on their own, too. It is January 1918, and Edward (Gonçalo Waddington), an unremarkable civil servant for the British Empire, is on the run. On the eve of marrying Molly (Crista Alfaiate), his fiancée whom he hasn't seen in seven years, Edward gets cold feet, fleeing Rangoon to escape his beloved. The film's first hour focuses on his restless getaway — on train and by boat, from Singapore to Saigon to Shanghai — while the second hour pivots to Molly's far more lighthearted tracking of Edward, her screwball-comedy cackle just one element of Gomes' movie that feels consciously antiquated. Filmed in silvery black-and-white, shot on sound stages and acted with a knowing theatricality, 'Grand Tour' plays like a lost early talkie that's been rescued from some dusty vault. But from the movie's first frames, Gomes keeps interrupting his tale, allowing the messy vitality of modern life to flood the narrative. Contemporary documentary footage of different puppet shows across Asia are interspersed with vivid street scenes that offer a present-day glimpse of the locations where Edward and Molly's romantic misadventures unspool. The film's mix of offscreen speakers often provides context for what's happening in the 1918 story when we see modern images that correspond to the action described. (For instance, during a moment in which Edward wanders into a Japanese noodle restaurant, Gomes shows documentary footage of a current one.) The initially jarring juxtaposition of then and now — fiction and documentary — quickly becomes intoxicating, inviting the viewer to both contemplate the ceaseless passage of time and ponder the seamless temporal transitions. Slyly, the device repeatedly undercuts the supposed importance of Edward and Molly's parallel odysseys. From our contemporary vantage point, their minuscule existences have been erased, replaced by the modern-day footage's bustle of traffic and clatter of the everyday. Similarly, the British's colonial control of the region is now a thing of the past. Even those in Edward's orbit sense the winds of change. 'The end of the empire is inevitable,' he's warned. 'It's a matter of years, maybe months. We will leave without having understood a thing.' The film's genesis was accidental, Gomes inspired by a brief passage in W. Somerset Maugham's 1935 collection of travel writing, 'The Gentleman in the Parlour,' in which the author recounts a story he heard about an Englishman trying to back out of his imminent wedding, traveling across Asia to stay a step ahead of his bride-to-be. (Amusingly, Gomes himself was about to marry when he read the book.) But rather than first write Edward and Molly's plot line, Gomes and his creative team retraced the steps of this Englishman — even if the tale was probably apocryphal — filming what they encountered along the way with the help of Sayombhu Mukdeeprom, a frequent cinematographer for Luca Guadagnino and Apichatpong Weerasethakul. After studying the documentary footage, all of it transporting without exoticizing the locales, Gomes and his cowriters penned the period tale based around that visual material. The result is a movie in which the 20th century and the 21st century continually talk to each other. Sometimes, the two eras bleed into one, making it nearly impossible to know whether we're witnessing past or present. (After three viewings, I am not entirely convinced that a ringing cellphone in one scene is contemporary or, rather, a coy anachronistic joke incorporated into a 1918 segment.) This temporal blending, far from being a coldly experimental exercise, immerses us in the pure pleasure of storytelling, as light and free as those magical puppet shows Gomes occasionally returns to. As performers, Waddington and Alfaiate are less timeless than than they are out of time, bringing soul and shading to silent-movie archetypes of the timid man and his brassy gal. Impressively, 'Grand Tour' illuminates the artificiality of its trappings while honoring them, tapping into our collective acceptance of the 'reality' of cinema's unreality. The characters' dilemma may, ultimately, be meaningless set against the ebbs and flows of history, but Gomes, who won the directing prize at last year's Cannes Film Festival, invests it with such elegance that it becomes nearly mythic: a touching fable of cowardice and devotion with tragic undertones. The scenes may be dreamlike, but they're our shared dream of being swept away by the movies. Sporadically, Gomes goes even further to remind us that everything we're watching is a construction. (A brief breaking of the fourth wall near the end of the film is stunning.) But as intellectually stimulating as 'Grand Tour' is, the film registers fully as an emotional, ecstatic experience. It's also a gas. Few filmmakers would be ballsy enough to swipe one of cinema's most famous — and parodied — pieces of music, Strauss' 'Blue Danube' waltz, forever synonymous with '2001: A Space Odyssey,' and find a fresh, poetic use for it. Here, the music scores an extraordinary montage that includes a lavish ball in 1918, the exploits of a fishing boat and a fleet of mopeds cruising in slow motion. Throughout 'Grand Tour,' then and now are joined in a glorious dance, creating something vibrantly new out of remnants of the past — gone but not forgotten.
What's On
09-03-2025
- Entertainment
- What's On
Why Atlantis, The Palm's Asateer Tent is one of Dubai's most iconic iftars
Sponsored: A true Dubai institution… As the sun dips below the Dubai skyline during Ramadan, a special seasonal ritual begins – a moment of reflection, connection, and, at Atlantis, The Palm's iconic Asateer Tent, iftar takes the form of a regal fast-breaking feast. The quintessential iftar experience is back, bigger and more poetically-nuanced than ever before, welcoming an astonishing 1,730 guests each night. That's not just a crowd; it's a true gastronomical gathering. Inside the tent, the Arabian Nights' tale unfolds… Ornate, yet effortlessly contemporary. Elegant chandeliers cast a golden glow over plush seating, the shoreline locale offers privileged blue Arabian Gulf views, and the stunning design aesthetic embraces worlds old and new, never anything less than tasteful and uncontrived. But it's not just about art for the eyes. The real magic happens on the plates. The iftar buffet is a culinary odyssey, with themed nights that span the gastronomic map. Their rotating buffet menu ensure that one evening, you could be diving into rich Persian delicacies; the next, you're traversing the spice-laden trails of Turkey or uncovering the bold, fragrant flavours of real Khaleeji cuisine. And for those who prefer a more global approach? The international night ensures no culinary quartier craving is left unfulfilled. For suhoor, a refined à la carte experience awaits, with a connoisseur's blend of modern and traditional dishes, and premium shisha options, all set in Asateer's laid-back luxurious style. Of course, the experience wouldn't be complete without the perfect seating arrangement. Whether you're looking to immerse yourself in the convivial buzz of the main dining area, retreat to the refined comfort of a VIP Majlis, or experience true exclusivity in the Royal Majlis (because, why not?), Asateer finds a home for every diner. Booth seating offers a touch of privacy, while 120 elegantly set dining tables ensure there's always room at the feast. Opulent, atmospheric, and endlessly delicious—this isn't just iftar, it's an event, a spectacle, a moment to savour. At Asateer, the breaking of fast is nothing short of legendary. Atlantis, The Palm, sunset to 8.30pm, Dhs285 (Sun to Thur), Dhs310 (Fri to Sat). Tel: (0)4 426 0800. @atlantisthepalm > Sign up for FREE to get exclusive updates that you are interested in
